A rare, 1797 Swan Penny Token, considered the finest known to exist, highlights The Marshall Collection of Conder Tokens Part I – the first of a new series of special monthly world coin auctions set to debut Oct. 2, 2014 at Heritage Auctions. The new venue seeks to elevate advanced or specialty collections with customized marketing plans and single session auctions offered through HA.com.
“The Marshall Collection is very advanced in this specialty area of collecting,” said Matt Orsini, Consignment Director of World Coins at Heritage. “This new series of special monthly auctions is the perfect venue for specialized collections like this. We look forward to showing other collectors how they can take advantage of this venue and have their coins marketed and sold as single-collection auctions.”
The Marshall Collection is one of the finest Conder token collections in the world in terms of size and the number of rarities it contains. Conder tokens, aka 18th Century Provincial Tokens, are a collectible form of privately-minted coinage struck in the 18th and early 19th century England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Anglesey. They have long appealed to collectors because of the diverse and imaginative themes ranging from historical figures, satirical, maritime, wildlife, architectural, regional and more.
The 1797 Swan Penny Token is an extremely rare token that is perhaps the finest known of its type. The specimen’s sharp design elements and a sublime mixture of multicolored tone atop glossy surfaces make it one of the most highly sought issues in the Middlesex series. It appears with a $1,500 estimate. Additional highlights in The Marshall Collection include an 1800 Leicestershire Elmsthorpe 1/2 Penny, a key issue within the Conder Token series (est. $1,000+); a 1789 Hampshire Basingstoke copper Shilling Token (est. $400+); and a 1797 Hampshire Portsmouth 1/2 Penny Token, one of six to 10 known to exist (est. $800+).
Following Part I, Part II of the Marshall Collection of Conder Tokens will close Oct. 30. Heritage will then offer a second collection of Conder tokens at auction in November, followed by a collection of Philippine Medals. Specialized world coin offerings are also on tap into the future, Orsini said. “Collectors with similarly specialized collections could take advantage of this venue and have their coins marketed and sold as single-collection auctions,” he said.
Such collections are featured on HA.com, the largest numismatic auction site in the world, and listed as a named collection on the homepage. Opening and closing announcements are sent via email to qualified clients among Heritage’s 850,000 online bidder members. Upcoming auctions in the series include The Chatham Street Collection (Sale #241445), Oct. 30-Nov. 27, 2014, and The Dr. Rodger McFadden Collection (Sale #241449), Nov. 27-Dec. 25, 2014.